Improving outcomes for upper extremity disorders

The Orthopedic Center's Hand and Orthopedic Upper Extremity Program is dedicated to the comprehensive care of all upper limb conditions in infants, children and adolescents. Under the direction of Peter M. Waters, MD and Donald S. Bae, MD, patients with congenital, neuromuscular, sports-related, oncologic and traumatic or post-traumatic conditions of the upper extremity receive multi-disciplinary care that includes occupational and physical therapy, splinting/casting and reconstructive surgery.

In addition, our skilled experts in the Hand and Orthopedic Upper Extremity Program is committed in its efforts to improve clinical care through continued clinical and basic science research. The program is studying the treatment of a wide variety of upper limb conditions, including:

• reconstruction of the congenitally deficient hand
• the use of microsurgical techniques in reconstructive surgery for congenital upper extremity differences
• instability of the sternoclavicular and glenohumeral joints of the shoulder
• post-traumatic stiffness and deformity of the elbow
• surgical correction of forearm deformity following previous fracture
• ligament and/or cartilage injuries of the wrist
• the use of microsurgical techniques in reconstructive surgery following limb salvage for bone and soft-tissue tumors

Many of these investigations have resulted in national and international presentations or peer-reviewed medical publications—and all have increased our ability to provide the highest standard of patient care.

We are grateful to have been ranked #1 on U.S. News & World Report's list of the best children's hospitals in the nation for the fourth year in a row, an honor we could not have achieved without the patients and families who inspire us to do our very best for them. Thanks to you, Boston Children's is a place where we can write the greatest children's stories ever told.